4x4 conversion. please help

[acroteau23]

i have a 2x4 2004 ford ranger and i was wondering if the 4x4 from a 1988 ford ranger would work. the 1988 ranger was free with everything on it just need to know if it would work? what would i need to do? and dont tell me to trade it in thats not what im asking. thanks

 

[77'cj7]

The only way the swap will be feasible is if your truck has torsion bar suspension. If so, then you'll need to swap in parts from a 98 up ranger or a 95-01 explorer. If your truck is coil spring, then a solid axle swap is pretty much the only option. Either way, the 88 running gear will not work.

 

[acroteau23]

ok. what would i get the solid axle off of then?

 

[07rangerfx4lv2]

old bronco, theres a guy on here with an 04 with a solid axel out of a jeep

 

[07rangerfx4lv2]

but unless your using it as a rock crawling rig you are better off selling it and buying a 4x4,

 

[BlackBII]

The axle from the '88 wont work without some serious work, it's a TTB. Your best bet is a solid axle from an early bronco or a jeeper. This link has tons of info. Read every line

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/sas.html

 

[acroteau23]

i went to trade it in and they wanted to give me 500 for it. NO WAY. and not many people want to buy a 6 inch lifted 2x4 now do they

 

[acroteau]

ok i found an dana 30 front axle off of a jeep TJ wrangler 97-05, and a dana 44 out of a 1979 ford f150. would they fit? and what would be better?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well the Dana 30 would fit and would have the same width and bolt pattern as your truck, but the Dana 44 would be stronger , but it would be a larger bolt pattern and be alot wider as well...

 

[Original_Ranger84]

i went to trade it in and they wanted to give me 500 for it. NO WAY. and not many people want to buy a 6 inch lifted 2x4 now do they

They were offering 500$ for a trade in thats that new? Its worth atleast 2,000 for a trade in (just a low estimate...)

 

[acroteau]

alright thanks for the help. i wanted a 4x4 so i went to trade it in and they offered me 500 for it....thats not even close to a down payment on a new one so i kept it and am seriously thinking of a 4x4 conversion now. any other information that you have just let me know. anything helps

 

[acroteau]

what would i have to do as far as the transmission and transfer case goes?

 

[77'cj7]

Transfer case, you need a bw1354, which comes in all 4x4 rangers 93+.
Transmission, depends on your engine size and whether you have auto or manual.

 

[acroteau]

thanks. i have a 2.3 engine and 5 speed 5r55e transmission. would i have to get a new tranny?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

thanks. i have a 2.3 engine and 5 speed 5r55e transmission. would i have to get a new tranny?

Yes, you would need to get a new transmission, (from a 93 - 95 Ford ranger with a 2.3L and factory 4x4, and more then likely I believe it would be a 5 speed manual transmission.)

A 2wd transmission won't work, although you can swap the tail peices the shaft itself is too short to reach the transfercase, then you need wiring to wire in the 4x4 system and the snesors and stuff or go with a manual transfercase.

Also Depending on what front suspension you have you may or may not be able to even convert without going solid axle.

Honestly you really would be better off selling this truck and buying a 4x4, by the time you get all the parts its going to be pretty close to what a used truck would sell for. Not to mention the 2.3L is not going to have alot of balls to turn the tires if you can find a transmission. Not to be a rainy day...

However your truck is definately worth more then 500 bucks unless it has like 500,000 miles and is beat to hell which i doubt... Look it up on KBB and NADA and see what you could get for it both in trade in and selling it privately I bet you its more then you think...